simple diaper storage box

It's almost time for baby to make his debut, so I've been trying to get all the last minute things ready.  Since the changing table and diaper stacker are in Jack's room (which is not where baby will be sleeping, at least for a few weeks) I figured I needed another place to keep diapers so as not to disturb the toddler with changing the newborn in the middle of the night.

So I found this box lying around the house, and realized it was the perfect size!  It's a computer paper box.  And it just so happens that a box of baby wipes and a whole bunch of diapers fit in there just snugly.

There's still a little bit of room if I want to fit more diapers in, or for when he starts wearing bigger diapers.

Want to make one too?  It's really easy.

Start with a computer paper box (or really any box, depending on the size you want and what you'll be using it for).  On each corner I cut down about a 1/3 of the way, and folded the sides in because it was a bit taller than I wanted.

Use wrapping paper or just colored paper to cover the box.  Mod podge it onto the box, making sure to cover over the top edges.  You can line the inside with paper too if you want, but I was lazy and didn't bother.  You can't see it once it's full anyway.

Add a little flair with ribbon or strips of scrapbook paper to match your nursery.  Fill it up with diapers, wipes, burp cloths, or any other baby care items, and you have a cute little storage box custom made to match your nursery!

baby gift sets

As I mentioned before, I've been making lots and lots of receiving blankets, burp cloths, and bibs lately.  And I just finished (or almost finished) a few more sets!  These ones are all for the shop, so I'm excited to get them all listed.

This one is almost matching the one I made for my baby (who could be here any day now! yikes!)

The main difference is that instead of turquoise fabric for the back, I did green so that it could be for a baby boy or girl.  And I did green stitching. 

Isn't this just the cutest fabric?  I absolutely love it.

This one I'm still working on, but I thought I'd share what I've done so far.  It's like the baby girl gift set I already made, but in green and turquoise instead of pink and yellow.  Such a cute pattern!

I've finished the blanket and one of the burp cloths with turquoise fabric on the back and green stitching.  The other burp cloth and at least one of the bibs will have green fabric and turquoise stitching. I think it's going to turn out really cute!

And the last one is a fun, bright pattern for a baby girl gift set.

It seems like most baby items are always in soft pastel colors, which are often incredibly cute, but it's fun to go with bright colors sometimes too!  Babies are actually more drawn to the bright colors anyway because it's easier for them to see the contrast.  So I definitely went with bright on this one - bright pinks, reds, and oranges in a fun heart and flower pattern.

Some of my new baby gift sets are already listed in the shop, and hopefully the rest will be soon!

rain, rain

It's raining today!  For the first time in over a month!  Some people might not want rain on their 4th of July holiday week, but for us, it is a huge blessing!  This has been one of the driest springs/summers ever here in Utah, and after over a dozen large wildfires already this season, the most recent just a few miles from my house, we are all counting our blessings and praying for the rain to continue.

Here are just a few of the pictures taken from our back yard over the past two days.

It kind of looks like the apocalypse.  You can see the pine trees in that last close-up shot.  It's been pretty crazy.  But we're all so grateful for all the firefighters for working so tirelessly to fight all these fires this summer, and for the rain that has helped put out this fire, and hopefully prevent more.

I was at the fabric store the morning before this fire started, and found this adorable fabric (which I'm now trying to come up with an excuse to buy!)  I just thought it was kind of fitting with this post. Except we certainly don't want this rain to go away!

blankets and burp cloths and bibs, oh my!

I was sewing up a storm last week.  Partly because my husband's been out of town for work, and I needed something to keep me busy, and partly because I want to get these projects actually finished!  I'm notorious for starting a project and not finishing it (there's an unfinished quilt I started in high school that can attest to that...)

So I decided it was time for all of the fabric we bought to make baby blankets, burp cloths, and bibs for Jack to actually be made before this baby is born.  But since part of the reason some of them never got made in the first place was that we had enough of all these items, I'm going to keep a few new ones for this baby, and list the rest in my shop!  And since I probably won't have much time, energy, or desire for a lot of projects for a while after this baby comes, I wanted to get them all made and listed prior to the big day.

So here's some of the receiving blankets, burp cloths, and bibs I've been making.

 "I love grandma" receiving blanket, two burp cloths, and three bibs, with light green back

Close up of the cute fabric, and the blue zig-zag detailing around the edges

My mom actually bought this fabric (surprise!) but didn't have time to make it, so I made it for her.  It'll be her special burp cloths any time she has to feed/burp the baby!  :)

This is probably my favorite - I'm definitely keeping this one!  It's such a cute jungle animal pattern in fun pastels.  I did a turquoise back on the set I'm keeping.  

I think I might make another set with a green back, more gender neutral, to sell in the shop.  I have the jungle animal fabric cut out already to make another blanket, two more burp cloths, and three bibs.  Now I just have to pick a back color and make them!

Train blanket and burp cloth with dark/royal blue back

Jack's "blankie" is actually made out of this same fabric, and when he saw the fabric for this set, he got so excited!  He even grabbed some of the scraps and held them up to his face to snuggle them.  It was terribly cute, but affirmation that, as I had suspected, I wouldn't be able to give this blanket to baby brother.  So this set will go in the shop to avoid future tantrums!

The "gift set bundle" for the train blanket and burp cloth

So I know this next set is for a girl, which I don't have and am not having... but the fabric was so incredibly cute that we bought it a while ago with the idea that it could either be for this baby if it was a girl, or we could give it as a gift to someone.  But since I decided to list some baby gift sets in my shop, I think that will be its fate.

The quilt-like pattern is so cute, with pink, yellow, white and brown colors and flowers, polka dots, giraffes, and more.  The back is done in a white with pink flower pattern fabric.  The whole set is a receiving blanket, two burp cloths, and two bibs.

Close-up of the fabric and the zig-zag detailing around the edges

The "gift  set bundle" for the baby girl gift set

And because I just can't help myself... I discovered that the snuggle flannels were on sale at one of the fabric stores, so I went and bought fabric to make a few more sets today... better get them done soon!